No Penalties

[Lord Zardoz]

I would be very surprised if this ends up being the case.

For starters, I do not think they are going to toss out point buy. If you leave in point buy, that means you can still manage to start the game with a base strength of 18 before racial modifications. If you have that, you would start first level with +8 to hit as a fighter.

Why use a d20 to provide a random element when you can skew the success range 40% towards success at first level?

END COMMUNICATION

 

[Cadfan]

First of all, I don't think this was a confirmed fact.

Second, who the heck cares? This is a mathematical change. Its effect on gameplay will be minimal, since everyone's stats got adjusted in the same way.

 

[M.L. Martin]

First of all, I don't think this was a confirmed fact.

It isn't. It's Iceberg3K's extrapolation from the spined devil stats, according to his blog at Gleemax (under a different name that I don't recall offhand).

 

[Baby Samurai]

It isn't. It's Iceberg3K's extrapolation from the spined devil stats, according to his blog at Gleemax (under a different name that I don't recall offhand).

I thought it was pretty obvious that those numbers only apply to ability checks (ability bonus plus half level).

Spined Devil is level 6, so:

Str +7 (19) Con +5 (14) Dex +5 (15) Int +5 (15) Wis +5 (14) Cha +5 (15)

 

[med stud]

On the subject of halflings, I always thought -2 strength was too small a penalty. It's not much difference at all - especially when you consider that their small size entirely compensates for the to-hit penalty the strength penalty provides.

Give them bonuses in other areas, but I'd think a -4 at least would be appropriate. These guys are half the size of humans, after all.

Don't forget that small creatures have less carrying capacity than medium creatures. A halfling with Str 12 carries (I think) 75% of what a human with Str 12 carries. Halflings from the PHB are also described as athletic and their skill bonuses backs that up. Maybe they have exceptional muscle quality for such a small frame.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

On the subject of halflings, I always thought -2 strength was too small a penalty. It's not much difference at all - especially when you consider that their small size entirely compensates for the to-hit penalty the strength penalty provides.

But not for the damage penalty. And the fact that they can't carry as much stuff, and that they have to wield smaller weapons that deal less damage. And that they can't be easily intimidated (3.5 at least), and that are easily defeated in Grapples.

If it wasn't for all the other penalties (and given a higher Dex modifier), a higher strength penalty might be fine.